Athletic shoe trainer

ABSTRACT

An athletic shoe for simulating training in running spikes. The athletic shoe includes an outsole for engaging a horizontal supporting surface, a midsole having a wedge portion coupled to the outsole and an arch portion elevated at an angle of not less than 15° relative to the horizontal surface, and an upper that encloses the midsole. By incorporating a wedge that elevates the forefoot of the shoe and a molded plate, rigidity is provided to the arch of the foot to maintain the user on the balls of the user&#39;s feet.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority of U.S. application Ser. No.61/894,353, filed on Oct. 22, 2013, titled ATHLETIC SHOE TRAINER, whichapplication is incorporated in its entirety by reference in thisapplication.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

1. Field of Invention

The invention relates generally to an athletic shoe, and in particular,an athletic shoe trainer having an elevated midsole to simulate trainingin running spikes.

2. Background

High performance athletic sprinters often suffer from injuries orchronic pain in the lower leg, e.g., shin splints. It is hypothesizedthat this is due to sprinters not having access to footwear thatprovides conditioning that accurately simulates the later seasontraining and competition in sprinting spikes. This gap can be attributedto the fact that competitive spike shoes possess key functional featuresnot incorporated into typical training flats. Specifically, he spikeshoe places the heel in an elevated position and also typicallyincorporates a common feature known as a “spike plate” which limitsflexibility in the arch of the foot. In order to prevent these injuries,sprinters must gradually incorporate spike shoes into their trainingregimen. Often training facilities that are available for early seasonconditioning do not permit spike training.

Thus, a need exists for an athletic shoe that Allows for speed and powertraining in true sprint form on all indoor surfaces and, further,Provides conditioning of lower leg muscles and transition fromtraditional running shoes (“flats”) to running spikes (“spikes”).

SUMMARY

An athletic shoe is provided to simulate training in running spikes. Theathletic shoe includes an outsole for engaging a horizontal supportingsurface, a midsole having a wedge portion coupled to the outsole and anarch portion elevated at an angle of not less than 15° relative to thehorizontal surface; and an upper that encloses the midsole. Byincorporating a wedge that elevates the forefoot of the shoe and amolded plate (i.e., the arch portion), rigidity is provided to the archof the foot which forces the user to run on the ball of the user's feet.The outsole also facilitates optimum support and force transfer viaintegrated bands and a Velcro® strap that runs over the laces.

In one example, the athletic shoe may include an outsole for engaging asupporting horizontal surface and a midsole coupled to the outsole,where the midsole includes an arch portion elevated at an angle of notless than 15° relative to the horizontal surface. The athletic shoe alsoincludes an upper that encloses the midsole.

In another example, the athletic shoe may include an outsole having aplanar gripping surface designed to engage in planar contact with asupporting horizontal surface, and a midsole coupled to the outsole,where the midsole includes an arch portion elevated at an angle of notless than 15° relative to the horizontal surface. The athletic shoefurther includes an upper that encloses the midsole.

In yet another example, the athletic shoe may include an outsole and amidsole coupled to the outsole, where the midsole includes a firstportion and a second portion elevated at an angle of not less than 15°relative to the first portion. The athletic shoe further includes anupper that encloses the midsole.

Other devices, apparatus, systems, methods, features and advantages ofthe disclosure will be or will become apparent to one with skill in theart upon examination of the following figures and detailed description.It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features andadvantages be included within this description, and be protected by theaccompanying claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The present disclosure may be better understood by referring to thefollowing figures. The components in the figures are not necessarily toscale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles ofthe disclosure. In the figures, like reference numerals designatecorresponding parts throughout the different views.

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of one example of an implementation of anathletic shoe 100 according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 2. is a lateral side view of the outsole assembled with the midsoleof the athletic of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the outsole assembled with the midsole, asshown in FIG. 2.

FIGS. 4A-4D illustrates cross-sectional views of the various componentsof the midsole assembly 104 shown at Sections A-A, B-B, C-C, and D-D inFIGS. 2. and 3.

FIG. 5 is a top view illustrating the configuration of the upper of theshoe of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is rear view illustrating the configuration of the upper for theshoe of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a top view illustrating the tongue configuration of the shoeof FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 illustrates a lateral view of athletic shoe of FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 illustrates a medial view of athletic shoe of FIG. 1.

FIG. 10 is a side view of the athletic shoe of FIG. 1.

FIG. 11 is a top view of the athletic shoe of FIG. 1.

FIG. 12 is a back view of the athletic shoe of FIG. 1.

FIG. 13A is a medial view of the athletic shoe of FIG. 1.

FIG. 13B is a lateral view of the athletic shoe of FIG. 1.

FIG. 14A is a top view of the midsole assembly of FIG. 2.

FIG. 14B is a lateral view of the midsole assembly of FIG. 2.

FIG. 14C is a medial side view of the midsole assembly of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1-14C illustrate examples of different implementations of anathletic shoe is provided to simulate training in running spikes. Theathletic shoe, according to the present teachings, may generally includean outsole for engaging a supporting horizontal surface, a midsolecoupled to the outsole, the midsole having an arch portion elevated atan angle of not less than 15 degrees relative to the horizontal surface,and an upper that encloses the midsole. The outsole may be made ofrubber and include a planar gripping surface designed to engage inplanar contact with the supporting horizontal surface. The outsole maybe designed for all-surface wear and include ridges and a tread designon the forefoot tip portion of the outsole for increased traction. Themidsole may include a wedge portion that elevates the forefoot from theground (i.e., horizontal support surface) to an angle (not less than15°) that simulates training in spike shoes. The midsole may alsoinclude a foot length force plate (i.e., arch portion) made of highperformance elastomer, such as Pebax®, to be compliant yet stiff enoughto provide additional support to the arch of the foot and maximize theforce transfer between the leg and the ground. The force plate mayinclude a plastic mold with cut-outs to secure or otherwise couple theforce plate to the midsole wedge. The force plate may also include aseries of axially extending stiffening ribs or ridges to increase therigidity of the shoe. The upper may be made of synthetic leather andinclude a Velcro® strap that extends across the tongue of the shoe toprovide compression support to the foot. The upper may also include fouror more integrated bands to provide additional compression support ofthe foot. The athletic shoe my further include a heel bumper or outsoleto enclose the heel and couple the quarter of the upper to the forceplate.

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of one example of an implementation of anathletic shoe 100 according to the present disclosure. As illustrated inFIG. 1, the athletic shoe 100 includes an outsole 102, a midsoleassembly 104, and an upper 106. The outsole 102 includes a toe outsoleportion 108 with a gripping surface and a heel outsole portion 110 withthe gripping surface. The toe outsole 108 and heel outsole 110 may beconstructed of polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), rubber or othersuitable material.

The midsole 104 includes a rubber midsole wedge 112 and a force plate114 constructed of polyether block amide (Pebax®). The upper 106includes a Velcro® strap 116 for securing the users foot within theshoe, and integrated band supports 118 for providing support about thequarter of the shoe. The heel outsole 110 couples the quarter of theupper 106 to the force plate 114. The upper 110 may also include atongue portion 120. The upper 106 may be made from a combination ofsynthetic leather and synthetic nubuck leather. The upper 106 may alsobe made from a combination of polyester, nylon, micro-fiber, open meshcloth, or any other suitable synthetic fabrics.

An insole (not shown) made from vinyl or any other suitable material maybe laid over the midsole 104 in the interior of the shoe 100. The insolecouples the upper 106 to the midsole. The insole may be adhered, such asby gluing, to the top of the midsole 104.

FIG. 2. is a lateral side view of the outsole 102 assembled with themidsole 104.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the outsole 102 assembled with the midsole104. As illustrated, the toe outsole 108 may include a gripping surfacehaving series of ridges and v-shaped tread designs and the heel outsolewent in may also include a tread surface having v-shaped treads. Asshown, the force plate 114 may be elevated at an angle of no less than15° relative to the gripping surface of the toe outsole 108. The toeoutsole when a late may include a series of cut-outs that complement acorresponding to a series of cut-outs in the force plate 114 tofacilitate coupling of force plate 114 to the midsole wedge 112 and toeoutsole 108. The toe outsole 108 may also include a toe tab 202 thatoverlays the upper 106 to provide additional protection to the toe.

FIGS. 4A-4D illustrates cross-sectional views of the various componentsof the midsole assembly 104 shown at Sections A-A, B-B, C-C, and D-D inFIGS. 2. and 3. In particulate, Section A-A is a sectional view alongthe axial centerline of the midsole assembly. Section B-B is a sectionalview of the midsole wedge that illustrates the dimensional features ofthe cut-outs. Section C-C is a sectional view of the force plate thatillustrates the dimensional features of the axial stiffening ribs.Section D-D is a sectional view illustrating the dimensional features ofthe heel outsole.

FIG. 5 is a top view and FIG. 6 is rear view illustrating theconfiguration of the shoe upper 106. The top view illustrates featuresof the tongue, quarter and vamp designs. The rear view illustratesfeatures of the heel, back stay, and outside counter. FIG. 7 is a topview of the tongue 120.

FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate lateral and medial views of athletic shoe 100shown in FIG. 1. As shown, the shoe upper may include a syntheticleather vamp, open-cell tech mesh saddle with a v-shaped thermaltransfer weld overlay extending over the saddle to the quarter, asynthetic nubuck quarter with a synthetic leather quarter overlay,open-cell tech mesh tongue, and a synthetic leather back stay. The uppermay further include an eye stay having eyelets or lace loops toaccommodate shoe lacing, and a Velcro® strap to provide additionalsupport at across the tongue.

FIGS. 10, 11 and 12 illustrates side, top and back views, respectivelyof the athletic shoe 100 shown in FIG. 1.

FIGS. 13A and 13B illustrate medial and lateral views of the athleticshoe 100 shown in FIG. 1. In particular, the figures illustrate featuresof the Velcro® support strap. As shown, the support strap may include amedial side strap base that is secured beneath the quarter overlay,where the medial side strap base includes a “D” ring, and a strapextending from a slot formed in the lateral side strap base. In thisway, the supporting strap is crossed over the laces to the medial side,looped through the “D” ring, and is then crossed back over itself andsecured on the lateral side, as shown in FIG. 13C.

FIGS. 14A-14C illustrate top and lateral and medial side views of themidsole assembly 104 shown in FIG. 2. In particular, the figureillustrates the features of the force plate 114 which, as shown, mayinclude a series of axially extending stiffening ribs, cut-outs for airventilation, and a raised arch portion for supporting the arch of thefoot.

In general, terms such as “coupled to,” and “configured for couplingto,” and “secured to,” and “configured for securing to” and “incommunication with” (for example, a first component is “coupled to” or“is configured for coupling to” or is “configured for securing to” or is“in communication with” a second component) are used herein to indicatea structural, functional, mechanical, electrical, signal, optical,magnetic, electromagnetic, ionic or fluidic relationship between two ormore components or elements. As such, the fact that one component issaid to be in communication with a second component is not intended toexclude the possibility that additional components may be presentbetween, and/or operatively associated or engaged with, the first andsecond components.

The foregoing description of implementations has been presented forpurposes of illustration and description. It is not exhaustive and doesnot limit the claimed inventions to the precise form disclosed.Modifications and variations are possible in light of the abovedescription or may be acquired from practicing the invention. The claimsand their equivalents define the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. An athletic shoe comprising: an outsole forengaging a supporting horizontal surface; a midsole coupled to theoutsole, the midsole having an arch portion elevated at an angle of notless than 15 degrees relative to the horizontal surface; and an upperthat encloses the midsole.
 2. An athletic shoe comprising: an outsole,the outsole having a planar gripping surface designed to engage inplanar contact with a supporting horizontal surface; a midsole coupledto the outsole, the midsole having an arch portion elevated at an angleof not less than 15 degrees relative to the horizontal surface; and anupper that encloses the midsole.
 3. An athletic shoe comprising: anoutsole; a midsole coupled to the outsole, the midsole having firstportion and a second portion elevated at an angle of not less than 15degrees relative to the first portion; and an upper that encloses themidsole.